World Brain Day: 6 lifestyle tips for a healthier and stronger brain

The brain is a complex organ with billions of neurons in it. It has various complex networks, that are helpful for the normal functioning of the body. This decides the way we behave, feel and perceive the world around us and respond to it. So, it is essential to preserve it by following lifestyle tips to keep your brain healthy.

The dysfunction of the complex networks happens in different conditions affecting brains like brain stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia.

Y Wang et al.(2020) defined brain health as ‘the preservation of brain integrity and mental and cognitive function at a given age in the absence of overt brain diseases that affect normal brain function’. In this way brain, health, and proper functioning are important for an individual’s well-being, the well being his family and in turn for the progress of a nation.

Here are some ways to keep your brain healthy:

1. Physical exercise

Regular exercise is important for preserving brain function. It stimulates the brain, increases learning capacity, and preserves mood. Know the benefits of exercise for brain.

2. Proper diet and nutrition

Having a proper diet rich in fruits and vegetable are important for preserving brain function and reducing oxidative damage to the brain. There are certain nutrients than can improve your brain function.

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3. Control the medical risks

Maintaining good blood pressure control, controlling blood sugars and cholesterol levels, reducing smoking and alcohol intake, and having regular medical checkups also help keep the brain healthy

4. Sufficient sleep and relaxation

Having sufficient sleep and adequate relaxation rejuvenates the brain and energizes it for the next day. It also keeps the mood good, reduces the chance of depression, and improves memory.

5. Mental fitness is important along with physical fitness

Staying mentally fit means doing activities that stimulate the brain. Puzzle solving, thinking about complex scenarios and utilizing the power of brain keeps us mentally fit. Mental fitness reduces our chance of getting dementia also.

6. Social life is equally important for brain health

Having a social life, interacting with others and indulging in healthy and constructive conversations keeps the brain healthy. It also reduces the chance of depression.

As we continue to face new challenges such as climate change, wars, famine, pollution, new pandemic, preserving the brain health becomes important in the life of an individual. The nation as a whole also needs individuals who are healthy and fit, for it to progress, and reduce the burden of disease.

The theme of this year’s World Brain Day is ‘Brain Health For All’. If well implemented globally, it will go a long way in improving the quality and standards of living of people all over the world.